Visual channel refresh rate control for composite services delivery

ABSTRACT

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system and computer program product for deploying and delivering composite services in an NGN network. A method for managing refresh rates for visual channels in a composite services enablement data processing system can include establishing multiple channels of access to a common session for a composite service and synchronizing changes of state for the common session in a view for each of the channels of access to the service. Notably, voice activity can be detected over one of the channels of access for the common session. Responsive to detecting the voice activity, a refresh rate within a model for the common session can be changed to support a higher refresh rate in a view for another one of the channels of access for the common session. Conversely, the refresh rate can be changed to support a lower refresh rate responsive to not detecting voice activity.

REFERENCE TO CO-PENDING APPLICATIONS FOR PATENT

The present application is related to the following co-assigned U.S.Patent Applications, which are incorporated herein by reference herein:

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,536 entitled “COMPOSITE SERVICESDELIVERY”, filed on Dec. 8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,535 entitled “COMPOSITE SERVICESDELIVERY UTILIZING LIGHTWEIGHT MESSAGING”, filed on Dec. 8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/296,952 entitled “INITIATING VOICE ACCESSTO A SESSION FROM A VISUAL ACCESS CHANNEL TO THE SESSION IN A COMPOSITESERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEM”, filed on Dec. 8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/296,939 entitled “AUTO-ESTABLISHMENT OF AVOICE CHANNEL OF ACCESS TO A SESSION FOR A COMPOSITE SERVICE FROM AVISUAL CHANNEL OF ACCESS TO THE SESSION FOR THE COMPOSITE SERVICE”,filed on Dec. 8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,573 entitled “SYNCHRONIZED VIEW STATEFOR COMPOSITE SERVICES DELIVERY”, filed on Dec. 8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,211 entitled “MANAGING CONCURRENT DATAUPDATES IN A COMPOSITE SERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEM”, filed on Dec. 8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,497 entitled “SEAMLESS REFLECTION OFMODEL UPDATES IN A VISUAL PAGE FOR A VISUAL CHANNEL IN A COMPOSITESERVICES DELIVERY SYSTEM”, filed on Dec. 8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,496 entitled “SELECTIVE VIEWSYNCHRONIZATION FOR COMPOSITE SERVICES DELIVERY”, filed on Dec. 8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/296,937 entitled “MODEL AUTOCOMPLETION FORCOMPOSITE SERVICES SYNCHRONIZATION”, filed on Dec. 8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,693 entitled “UPDATE NOTIFICATION FORPEER VIEWS IN A COMPOSITE SERVICES DELIVERY ENVIRONMENT”, filed on Dec.8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,079 entitled “SECURE ACCESS TO A COMMONSESSION IN A COMPOSITE SERVICES DELIVERY ENVIRONMENT”, filed on Dec. 8,2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,542 entitled “VIEW COORDINATION FORCALLERS IN A COMPOSITE SERVICES ENABLEMENT ENVIRONMENT”, filed on Dec.8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,541 entitled “COMPOSITE SERVICESENABLEMENT OF VISUAL NAVIGATION INTO A CALL CENTER”, filed on Dec. 8,2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,601 entitled “VOICE NAVIGATION OF AVISUAL VIEW FOR A SESSION IN A COMPOSITE SERVICES ENABLEMENTENVIRONMENT”, filed on Dec. 8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,593 entitled “SPEECH DISAMBIGUATION INA COMPOSITE SERVICES ENABLEMENT ENVIRONMENT”, filed on Dec. 8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,061 entitled “CHANNEL PRESENCE IN ACOMPOSITE SERVICES ENABLEMENT ENVIRONMENT”, filed on Dec. 8, 2005.

U.S. application Ser. No. 11/297,594 entitled “COMPOSITE SERVICESGENERATION TOOL”, filed on Dec. 8, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to the field of next generation networking(NGN) and more particularly to the deployment and delivery of compositeservices over an NGN network.

2. Description of the Related Art

Next generation networking (NGN) refers to emerging computing networkingtechnologies that natively support data, video and voice transmissions.In contrast to the circuit switched telephone networks of days gone by,NGN networks are packet switched and combine voice and data in a singlenetwork. Generally, NGN networks are categorized by a split between callcontrol and transport. Also, in NGN networks, all information istransmitted via packets which can be labeled according to theirrespective type. Accordingly, individual packets are handled differentlydepending upon the type indicated by a corresponding label.

The IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS) is an open, standardized, operatorfriendly, NGN multimedia architecture for mobile and fixed services. IMSis a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) implementation based upon avariant of the session initiation protocol (SIP), and runs over thestandard Internet protocol (IP). Telecom operators in NGN networks offernetwork controlled multimedia services through the utilization of IMS.The aim of IMS is to provide new services to users of an NGN network inaddition to currently available services. This broad aim of IMS issupported through the extensive use of underlying IP compatibleprotocols and corresponding IP compatible interfaces. In this way, IMScan merge the Internet with the wireless, cellular space so as toprovide to cellular technologies ubiquitous access useful servicesdeployed on the Internet.

Multimedia services can be distributed both within NGN networks andnon-NGN networks, alike, through the use of markup specified documents.In the case of a service having a visual interface, visually orientedmarkup such as the extensible hypertext markup language (XHTML) and itsmany co-species can specify the visual interface for a service whenrendered in a visual content browser through a visual content channel,for instance a channel governed by the hypertext transfer protocol(HTTP). By comparison, an audio interface can be specified for a serviceby voice oriented markup such as the voice extensible markup language(VoiceXML). In the case of an audio interface, a separate voice channel,for instance a channel governed according to SIP.

In many circumstances, it is preferred to configure services to bedelivered across multiple, different channels of differing modalities,including the voice mode and the visual mode. In this regard, a serviceprovider not always can predict the interactive modality through which aservice is to be accessed by a given end user. To accommodate thisuncertainty, a service can be prepared for delivery through eachanticipated modality, for instance by way of voice markup and visualmarkup. Generating multiple different markup documents to satisfy thedifferent modalities of access, however, can be tedious. In consequence,merging technologies such as the XHTML+VoiceXML (X+V) have been utilizedto simplify the development process.

Specifically, X+V represents one technical effort to produce amultimodal application development environment. In X+V, XHTML andVoiceXML can be mixed in a single document. The XHTML portion of thedocument can manage visual interactions with an end user, while theVoiceXML portion of the document can manage voice interactions with theend user. In X+V, command, control and content navigation can be enabledwhile simultaneously rendering multimodal content. In this regard, theX+V profile specifies how to compute grammars based upon the visualhyperlinks present in a page.

Processing X+V documents, however, requires the use of a proprietarybrowser in the client devices utilized by end users when accessing thecontent. Distributing multimedia services to a wide array of end userdevices, including pervasive devices across NGN networks, can bedifficult if one is to assume that all end user devices areproprietarily configured to handle X+V and other unifying technologies.Rather, at best, it can only be presumed that devices within an NGNnetwork are equipped to process visual interactions within one, standardchannel of communication, and voice interactions within a second,standard channel of communication.

Thus, despite the promise of X+V, to truly support multiple modalitiesof interaction with services distributed about an NGN or, even a non-NGNnetwork, different channels of communications must be established foreach different modality of access. Moreover, each service must beseparately specified for each different modality. Finally, once asession has been established across one modality of access to a service,one is not able to change mid-session to a different modality of accessto the same service within the same session. As a result, theinteractions across different channels accommodating differentmodalities of interaction remain unsynchronized and separate.Consequently, end users cannot freely switch between modalities ofaccess for services in an NGN network.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention address deficiencies of the art inrespect to deploying and delivering a service to be accessed throughdifferent channels of access in an NGN network, and provide a novel andnon-obvious method, system and apparatus for deploying and deliveringcomposite services in an NGN network. As used herein, a compositeservice is a service deployed across an NGN network that has beenenabled to be accessed through multiple, different modalities of accessin correspondingly different channels while maintaining thesynchronization of the state of the service between the differentchannels of access.

In a first embodiment of the invention, a composite service enablingdata processing system can include channel servlets enabled to establishmultiple different channels of access to a common session for acomposite service. The system also can include a location registryincluding a table of entries associating the different channels ofaccess with the common session for the composite service. The system yetfurther can include a model servlet configured for coupling to a modelfor the common session, for modifying state data in the model for thecommon session, and to synchronize views for each of the differentchannels of access to the common session responsive to changes detectedin the model. Finally, the system can include a refresh rate controllercoupled to the model servlet. The refresh rate controller can includeprogram code enabled to change a refresh rate in the model for a view ina visual channel of access for the single session, responsive todetecting voice activity in a channel of access for the single session.

In another embodiment of the invention, a method for managing refreshrates for visual channels in a composite services enablement dataprocessing system can include establishing multiple channels of accessto a common session for a composite service and synchronizing changes ofstate for the common session in a view for each of the channels ofaccess to the service. Notably, voice activity can be detected over oneof the channels of access for the common session. Responsive todetecting the voice activity, a refresh rate within a model for thecommon session can be changed to support a higher refresh rate in a viewfor another one of the channels of access for the common session.Conversely, the refresh rate can be changed to support a lower refreshrate responsive to not detecting voice activity.

Additional aspects of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The aspectsof the invention will be realized and attained by means of the elementsand combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It isto be understood that both the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only andare not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute partof this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention. The embodiments illustrated herein are presently preferred,it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to theprecise arrangements and instrumentalities shown, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of an IMS configured for use with adata processing system arranged to deploy and deliver composite servicesin an NGN network;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a data processing system arrangedto deploy and deliver composite services in an NGN network;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a process for delivering compositeservices in an NGN network in the data processing system of FIG. 2; and,

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating a process for managing refresh ratesfor visual channels in the data processing system of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide a method, system andcomputer program product for delivering composite services in an NGNnetwork. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention,different channels of access to a service can be established foraccessing a service through corresponding different modalities of accessincluding voice and visual modes. Specifically, interactions with aservice within a session can be provided across selected ones of thedifferent channels, each channel corresponding to a different modalityof access to the service. In the case of a voice modality and a visualmodality, a separate markup document can be utilized in each selectedchannel according to the particular modality for that channel.

Importantly, each channel utilized for accessing a service within asession can be associated with each other channel accessing the servicewithin the same session. In consequence, the state of the service—storedwithin a model in a model-view-controller architecture—can be maintainedirrespective of the channel used to change the state of the service.Moreover, the representation of the service can be synchronized in eachview for the selected ones of the different channels. As such, an enduser can interact with the service in a single session across differentchannels of access using different modalities of access withoutrequiring burdensome, proprietary logic deployed within a clientcomputing device.

Notably, the composite services enabler can regulate the refresh ratefor a view in a content browser for a visual channel of access to asession depending upon the detection of activity in a voice channel ofaccess. Specifically, in as much as the rate of refresh for the viewordinarily can be performed only automatically by the content browser,or manually through an action by an end user interacting with the view,the view provided by the composite services enabler can be enabled torefer to the model to locate a refresh rate. The composite servicesenabler, in turn, through a refresh rate controller can vary the refreshrate in the model responsive to detecting voice activity over a voicechannel of access to the same session. In this way, voice changes to themodel can be reflected more quickly in the view of the visual channel ofaccess without consuming unnecessary processing resources when no voicechanges have occurred due to voice inactivity detected by the compositeservices enabler.

Advantageously, the system of the present invention can be embodiedwithin an IMS in a NGN network. In illustration, FIG. 1 is a pictorialillustration of an IMS configured for use with a data processing systemenabled to establish a voice channel of access to a session for acomposite service from a visual channel of access to the session in anNGN network. As shown in FIG. 1, a composite service enablement dataprocessing system 200 can be arranged to deploy and deliver a compositemultimedia service 180 in an NGN network 120. As used herein, a“composite multimedia service” can be a service configured to beaccessed through multiple different views of different modalities acrosscorrespondingly different channels of communications.

More specifically, the composite multimedia service 180 can be accessedthrough several different modalities, including a visual mode, aninstant messaging mode and a voice mode. Each modality of access can beproduced by a developer 190 through the use of a service deployment tool170. The service deployment tool 170 can be configured to produce thedifferent modalities of access for the composite multimedia service 180,including visual markup to provide visual access to the compositemultimedia service 180, and voice markup to provide audible access tothe composite multimedia service 180.

One or more gateway server platforms 110 can be coupled to the compositeservice enablement data processing system 200. Each of gateway serverplatforms 110 can facilitate the establishment of a communicationchannel for accessing the composite multimedia service 180 according toa particular modality of access. For example, the gateway serverplatforms 110 can include a content server such as a Web server enabledto serve visual markup for accessing the composite multimedia service180 over the NGN network 120 through a visual mode. Likewise, thegateway server platforms 110 can include a voice server enabled toprovide audible access to the composite multimedia service 180 over theNGN network 120 through an audible mode.

End users 130 can access the composite multimedia service 180 utilizingany one of a selection of client access devices 150. Application logicwithin each of the client access devices 150 can provide an interfacefor a specific modality of access. Examples include a content browserwithin a personal computing device, an audible user interface within apervasive device, a telephonic user interface within a telephonehandset, and the like. Importantly, each of the provided modalities ofaccess can utilize a separate one of multiple channels 160 establishedwith a corresponding gateway server platform 110 over the network 120for the same session with the composite multimedia service 180. In thisregard, a session with the composite multimedia service 180 can subsistacross the multiple channels 160 to provide different modalities ofaccess to the composite multimedia service 180 for one of the end users130.

In more particular illustration, FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration ofthe composite service enablement data processing system 200 of FIG. 1.The composite service enablement data processing system 200 can operatein an application server 275 and can include multiple channel servlets235 configured to process communicative interactions with correspondingsessions 225 for a composite multimedia service over different channelsof access 245, 250, 255 for different endpoint types 260A, 260B, 260C inan NGN network. In this regard, the channel servlets 235 can processvoice interactions as a voice enabler and voice server to visualendpoint 260A incorporating a voice interface utilizing the Real TimeProtocol (RTP) over HTTP, or a voice endpoint 260B utilizing SIP.Likewise, the channel servlets 235 can process visual interactions as aWeb application to a visual endpoint 260A. As yet another example, thechannel servlets 235 can process instant message interactions as aninstant messaging server to an instant messaging endpoint 260C.

More specifically, the channel servlets 235 can be enabled to processHTTP requests for interactions with a corresponding session 225 for acomposite multimedia service. The HTTP requests can originate from avisual mode oriented Web page over a visual channel 245, from a visualmode oriented instant messaging interface over an instant messagingchannel 255, or even in a voice mode over a voice channel 250 enabled bySIP. Similarly, the channel servlets 235 can be enabled to process SIPrequests for interactions with a corresponding session 225 for acomposite multimedia service through a voice enabler which can includesuitable voice markup, such as VoiceXML and call control extensiblemarkup language (CCXML) coupled to a SIPlet which, in combination, canbe effective in processing voice interactions for the correspondingsession 225 for the composite multimedia service, as it is known in theart.

Each of the channel servlets 235 can be coupled to a model servlet 220.The model servlet 220 can mediate interactions with a model 210 for anassociated one of the sessions 225. Each of the sessions 225 can bemanaged within a session manager 220 which can correlate differentchannels of communication established through the channel servlets 235with a single corresponding one of the sessions 225. The correlation ofthe different channels of communication can be facilitated through theuse of a coupled location registry 230. The location registry 230 caninclude a table indicating a host name of systems and channels activefor the corresponding one of the sessions 225.

The model servlet 215 can include program code enabled to access a model210 for a corresponding session 225 for a composite multimedia serviceproviding different channels of access 245. 250, 255 through differentendpoints 260A, 260B, 260C. For instance, the model 210 can beencapsulated within an entity bean within a bean container. Moreover,the model 210 can store session data for a corresponding one of thesessions 225 irrespective of the channel of access 245, 250, 255 throughwhich the session data for the corresponding one of the sessions 225 iscreated, removed or modified.

Notably, changes in state for each of the sessions 225 for a compositemultimedia service can be synchronized across the different views 260for the different channels of access 245, 250, 255 through a listenerarchitecture. The listener architecture can include one or morelisteners 240 for each model 210. Each listener can correspond to adifferent channel of access 245, 250, 255 and can detect changes instate for the model 210. Responsive to detecting changes in state forthe model 210 for a corresponding one of the sessions 225 for acomposite multimedia service, a listener 240 can provide a notificationto subscribing view 260 through a corresponding one of the channelservlets 235 so as to permit the subscribing views 260 to refresh toincorporate the detected changes in state for the model 210.

In accordance with the present invention, each model 210 can include arefresh rate 285. The refresh rate 285 can be written to an attribute ofmarkup defining the view for a visual endpoint 260A in the visualchannel of access 245 in order to determine when to refresh the view ofthe visual endpoint 260A. A refresh rate controller 400, in turn, canmonitor the voice channel of access 250 to detect voice activity fromthe voice endpoint 260B. When voice activity is detected, the refreshrate controller 400 can update the refresh rate 285 in the model for thesession corresponding to the voice channel of access 250. When voice isdetected, it is likely that the model 210 has been audibly updated andthe refresh rate 285 can be lowered. Conversely, when no voice isdetected, it is not likely that the model 210 has been audibly updatedand the refresh rate 285 can be raised.

Turning now to FIG. 3, a flow chart is shown which illustrates a processfor managing multiple channels of access to a single session for acomposite service in the data processing system of FIG. 2. Beginning inblock 310, a first channel of access can be opened for the compositemultimedia service and a session can be established in block 320 withthe composite multimedia service. Data for the session can be stored ina model for the session which can be established in block 330. Ifadditional channels of access are to be established for the session indecision block 340, the process can continue in block 350. In block 350,an additional channel of access can be established for the same sessionfor as many additional channels as required.

When no further channels of access are to be established in decisionblock 340, in block 360 a listener can be registered for eachestablished channel of access for the session. Subsequently, in block370 events can be received in each listener. In decision block 380, whena model change is detected, in block 390, the model change can beprovided to each endpoint for selected ones of the established channelsof access. In consequence, the endpoints can receive and apply thechanges to corresponding views for the selected ones of the establishedchannels of access for the same session, irrespective of the particularchannel of access through which the changes to the model had beenapplied.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a flow chart is shown which illustrates a processfor managing refresh rates for visual channels in the data processingsystem of FIG. 2. Beginning in block 410, a voice channel of access canbe monitored for voice activity. In decision block 420, if voiceactivity is detected, in block 440 the refresh rate defined with themodel can be raised in order to cause a higher rate of refresh.Otherwise, in block 430, the refresh fate defined within the model canbe lowered in order to cause a lower rate of refresh. Optionally, theraising and lowering of the refresh rate can include setting apre-specified value for a low rate of refresh, and a pre-specified valuefor a high rate of refresh. Consequently, the consumption of resourcesassociated with a high rate of refresh can be avoided when no voiceactivity is detected indicating that an update to the model is notlikely (and therefore a refreshing of the view for the visual channel ofaccess to the session associated with the model is not required).

Embodiments of the invention can take the form of an entirely hardwareembodiment, an entirely software embodiment or an embodiment containingboth hardware and software elements. In a preferred embodiment, theinvention is implemented in software, which includes but is not limitedto firmware, resident software, microcode, and the like. Furthermore,the invention can take the form of a computer program product accessiblefrom a computer-usable or computer-readable medium providing programcode for use by or in connection with a computer or any instructionexecution system.

For the purposes of this description, a computer-usable or computerreadable medium can be any apparatus that can contain, store,communicate, or transport the program for use by or in connection withthe instruction execution system, apparatus, or device. The medium canbe an electronic, magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, or semiconductorsystem (or apparatus or device). Examples of a computer-readable mediuminclude a semiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, aremovable computer diskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read-onlymemory (ROM), a rigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Currentexamples of optical disks include compact disk-read only memory(CD-ROM), compact disk-read/write (CD-R/W) and DVD.

A data processing system suitable for storing and/or executing programcode will include at least one processor coupled directly or indirectlyto memory elements through a system bus. The memory elements can includelocal memory employed during actual execution of the program code, bulkstorage, and cache memories which provide temporary storage of at leastsome program code in order to reduce the number of times code must beretrieved from bulk storage during execution. Input/output or I/Odevices (including but not limited to keyboards, displays, pointingdevices, etc.) can be coupled to the system either directly or throughintervening I/O controllers. Network adapters may also be coupled to thesystem to enable the data processing system to become coupled to otherdata processing systems or remote printers or storage devices throughintervening private or public networks. Modems, cable modem and Ethernetcards are just a few of the currently available types of networkadapters.

1. A composite service enabling data processing system comprising: aplurality of channel servlets executing in an application server in adata processing system for storing and executing program code includingat least one processor coupled to memory elements through a system bus,the servlets enabled to establish multiple different channels of accessto a common session for a composite service; a location registrycomprising a table of entries associating the different channels ofaccess with the common session for the composite service; and, a modelservlet executing in the application server and configured for couplingto a model for the common session, for modifying state data in the modelfor the common session, and to synchronize views for each of thedifferent channels of access to the common session responsive to changesdetected in the model; and, a refresh rate controller coupled to themodel servlet, the refresh rate controller comprising program codeenabled to increase a refresh rate in the model for a view in a visualchannel of access for the common session, responsive to detecting anincrease in voice activity in a voice channel of access for the commonsession, and to decrease the refresh rate in the model for the view inthe visual channel of access for the common session, responsive todetecting a decrease in voice activity in the voice channel of accessfor the common session.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the channelservlets comprise a voice enabler and voice server enabled to establishfor the common session, a voice channel of access to the common sessionfor the composite service.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the channelservlets and model servlet are disposed in an application server.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein the channel servlets and model servlet aredisposed in an Internet protocol (IP) multimedia subsystem (IMS) in anext generation networking (NGN) network.
 5. A method for managingrefresh rates for visual channels in a composite services enablementdata processing system, the method comprising: establishing multiplechannels of access to a common session for a composite service;synchronizing changes of state in a model corresponding to the commonsession in a view for each of the channels of access to the commonsession; and, detecting voice activity over one of the channels ofaccess for the common session; and, responsive to detecting an increasein the voice activity, increasing a refresh rate within a model for thecommon session to support a higher refresh rate in a view for anotherone of the channels of access for the common session; and decreasing therefresh rate within the model for the common session to support a lowerrefresh rate in the view for another one of the channels of access forthe common session responsive to detecting a decrease in the voiceactivity.
 6. The method of claim 5, establishing multiple channels ofaccess to a common session for a composite service, comprisesestablishing for the common session at least a voice channel of accessto the common session, and a visual channel of access to the commonsession.
 7. The method of claim 5, wherein establishing multiplechannels of access for a common session to a composite service,comprises establishing for a common session to a composite service in anext generation networking (NGN) network at least a voice channel ofaccess to the common session, and a visual channel of access to thecommon session.
 8. The method of claim 5, wherein synchronizing changesof state for the model in a view for each of the channels of access tothe common session, comprises: maintaining the state of the model forthe common session; creating listeners for changes of the state for themodel; detecting changes in the state for the model in the listeners;and, updating the view for each of the channels of access to the commonsession responsive to detecting the changes of state for the model inthe listeners.
 9. A computer program product comprising a non-transitorymedium having computer usable program code for managing refresh ratesfor visual channels in a composite services enablement data processingsystem, the computer program product including: computer usable programcode for establishing multiple channels of access to a common sessionfor a composite service; computer usable program code for synchronizingchanges of state in a model corresponding to the common session in aview for each of the channels of access to the common session; computerusable program code for detecting voice activity over one of thechannels of access for the common session; computer usable program codefor increasing a refresh rate within a model for the common session tosupport a higher refresh rate in a view for another one of the channelsof access for the common session responsive to detecting the voiceactivity; and decreasing the refresh rate within the model for thecommon session to support a lower refresh rate in the view for anotherone of the channels of access for the common session responsive to notdetecting voice activity.
 10. The computer program product of claim 9,wherein the computer usable program code for establishing multiplechannels of access to a common session for a composite service,comprises computer usable program code for establishing at least a voicechannel of access to the common session, and a visual channel of accessto the common session.
 11. The computer program product of claim 9,wherein the computer usable program code for establishing multiplechannels of access to a common session for a composite service,comprises computer usable program code for establishing for a commonsession, in a next generation networking (NGN) network at least a voicechannel of access to the common session, and a visual channel of accessto the common session.
 12. The computer program product of claim 9,wherein the computer usable program code for synchronizing changes ofstate for the model corresponding to the common session in a view foreach of the channels of access to the common session, comprises:computer usable program code for maintaining the state of the model forthe common session; computer usable program code for creating listenersfor changes of the state for the model; computer usable program code fordetecting changes in the state for the model in the listeners; and,computer usable program code for updating the view for each of thechannels of access to the services responsive to detecting the changesof state for the model in the listeners.